Tube splicing machine



7, 1935. R. D. HULSLANDER TUBE SPLIGING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1933 18Sheets-Sheet 1 M INVENTOR Ray D. Hulsbmder ATTORNEY6 Aug. 27,1935. R. D.HULSLANDER 2,012,565

TUBE SPLICING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1933 18 Sheets-Sheet 2 d 0 b l/K?)6 134. i (a m i I \29 INVENTYOR Ray "D. Hulskmder BY 2 Z i; qfgcm/uw ATTO RN EYS Filed June 21, 1933 18 Sheets-Sheet-Z:

Rag D. Hulslomdgr VEM' ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1935. R. D. HULSLANDER I TUBESPLICING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1933 18 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR Rog D.Hulslamder' ATTO RNEYS Aug. 27, 1935. R. D. HULSLANDER TUBE SPLICINGMACHINE- Filed June 21, 1955 18 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR Ran D.Huflslamder ATTO RN EY-s Aug. 27, 1935.

R. D. HULSLANDER TUBE SPLIC ING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1955 l I a J I II I l I I 18 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 1935- R. D. HULSLANDER2,012,565

TUBE SPLICING MACHINE;

Filed June 21, 1955 18 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR Ron; D. Huhhnder 7 BY LATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1935. R. D. HULSLANDER 2,012,565

TUBE SPLICING' MACHINE Filed June 21, 1955 18 Sheets-Sheet a III/III IVIIIIIIIIIII/I IN ENT R Ran D. Hmslamder 84%; ME M Aug. 27, 1935. R. D.HULSLANDER TUBE SPLICING MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed June 21, 1933ATTORNEY5 lllll r 1935- R. D. HULSLANDER 2,012,565

TUBE SPLICING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1953 18 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORRag D. Hulslander ATTORN EYS Augl 7, 1935. R. D. HULSLANDER TUBESPLICING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1933 18 Sheets-Sheet l1 INVENTORATTORNEYS Aug; 27, 1935. R. D. HULSLANDER TUBE SPLICING MACHINE FiledJune, 21, 1935 18 Sheets-Sheet 12 lNVENTOR Rag D. Hulsmnder ATTORNEYSAug. 27, 1935. R. D. HULSLANDER TUBE SPLICING MACHINE Filed June 21,1933 18 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR Rog 'D. ulslander ATTORNEYS A g- 7,.1935. R. D. HULS LANDER TUBE SPLICING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1933 l8Sheets-Sheet l4 INVENTOR yjjrdslandm" ATTOIRNEYS Aug. 27, 1935. R. D.HULSLANDER TUBE SPLICING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1933 18 Sheets-Sheet 16INVENTOR Ran T). Hulslander ATTORNEYS 1935. RJD. HULSLANDER TUBESPLICING' MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed June 21, 1933 INVENTOR R015D. Hublander I l l l I l l I I l l l l I l l l I l l I I l I I l l ILI IY l I l l I I l l I I l l I ATTORNEYS- R. D. HULSLANDER 2,012,565

TUBE SPLICING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1933 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 INVENTORRag D. Hulshnder ATTORNEY5 Patented Aug. 21,1935

1 WJ E a i f'J- BE-S L M Q CNE l a t Ray Dl iiulslander hkron,hi0,'ass'i gn0rto*'1he I I v Firestone Tire &' Rubber-"Company, Akron-tt Ohio, 21. corporatio'nhof Ohio; :31

7' Application June 2171933, serial lvo 676,773;

18 Claims;

invention relates to tube splicing Inachinesand more especially itrelates to machines for "butt-splicing inner tubes composedof.

vulcanizedrubbercomposition.. I V

The chief objects ofthe invention are tt'pra vi d e a machine oftheucharacter mentionedthat Will bag-fully automatic; in operationexcept for the manual-rnounting andremoval of the work;

tha t' wil l b'e continuous in operation; that will trim the tube-endsbefore butt-splicing them, and dispose of thetrimmings; and that willnotdis tortithe ube ends during the trimming o Other objects willbemanifest. i ,In general the machine comprises a rotatable turret thatcarries four Work-holding 'mech'ae nismsorjunits. The turret isintermittently indexed or angularlyi rotated through- 90 degrees; andduring the periods of rest finished work is re-.

moved and new work is mountedi'nfonetof-the units at one station, and.at the'diametricallyopposite station the two ends of the work are beingtrimmed. Other operations comprisingthe clamping of the work in theunit, thebutting together, of the trimmedfendsof the work,tand the sub-.

sequent opening of the unit to releasethe 'work' are performedduring theintervals that the turret,

is in motion, between the periods of rest.

Thetwo tube-ends of each tube are trimmed concurrently by means of arotatable cup jshapedj knife that moves forward to cutting positionafter the tube has been properly positioned .b'ythe ro-. tation of theturret. The, trimmings from the ends of the tubes are suckedthrough-ahollow} spindle that carries the trimming: knife, and are deposited inthe main housing of themachine. Suitable safety means is providedforpreventing injury to the knifein the event thatthe work-f holdingunits are not properlypositioned when" the knife moves toward trimmingposition.. a:

. Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevation "of apparatus bodyi'ngthe invention jin itspreferred rim; 7 Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 -2 of showing partof the turretin plan; f

Figure 3 is a. s'ection onthe line 33 oi ure 2; p t

Figure 4 1s a section on the'lline a rari nure 3; Figure 5 is urez; v At Figure 6 is a developed diagrammatic .view; of two associated cams; yFigure 7 is a detail elevation of a portion of a work-holding unit; h hV e Figure 8 is an end elevation of the mechanism asection on the line5f5 'of Fig ration:

shown in Fi g ure '7 asviet'iea frornfthe ieftitherej I Figure9jisajplan View ofthe mechanism shown V in. Figure} 1 Figure ioijis asi,

therein?v Figure ll Iis I FigureIZ-isa'detaiI sectional view'oi thework-j holding mechanism, andthework therein, and a trimmingvlknife asjtheyi an 1:" during" the tube- .trimmingjoperationgj Figure 13 is ad'tail se tiOnai jview orjuie work'- I de 'el evationof a complete tubegf splicing unit infsphcin'g pos'ition,;and,the works end elevation-ofthe apparatus; shown "in""F'igure"j10, as viewed "fromthe right i t. E15holding mechanism, and the 'lwork therein, as]

they'appear during, the tubegsplici'ngfoperatiorni I Figure 14 isjafragmentary sectional perspective view of a1 spliced inner tube at thesplice thereof;

is a section onth'e line [5-15 ofjig-J" Figure '1'9,s e""sebtipn on theline Iii-i9 of, Fig;

Figure '27] is a section on the line 2.1f21.of, Figure-24'; and

ji'l rease on the li ne any Figure 28 ista view similar to ZEigure 27tshowing the operation oflsafety mechanism thereon.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises ia' main housing 30upon'the top of which is mounted a head casting 3 I that overhangsjthe 5main housing '30 at frontand rear thereof. The

head casting Ii-l is Vop vat its bottom to the-in terior of the mainhousing, and has itstop closed m i new part a w ieie 1 were being acover plate 33 over a portion of the head casting at the front of themachine. Depending from the front end of the headcasting 3| is adownwardly tapered spindle-housing 34 within which is,disposed a'hollow, vertical, indexing spindle35 that is arranged to be periodicallyindexed or angularly rotated through 90 degrees by mechanismsubsequentlyto be described;

As is most clearly shown in Figure 3; the-lower. end of the spindlehousing 34- carries alower bearing 36 for the spindle 35, and alsocarries a double cam: structure 31 disposed concentrically about Securedon the lower end of spin said spindle. die '35 by key 38, betweentaperedcollets 39, 39

on said' spindle, is a turret 40, a nut '4l being threaded onto the endportion of the spindleto retain the collets 39 and turret m-iniassembled.relation. Disposed interiorly of the hollow spindle 35, and spaced fromthe wall thereof, is a pipe .42 .for conveying an. elastic fluid, suchas air,

under high pressure, from a' source of supply subsequently to be Idescribed; the space. between secured. The vise jaws55arepivotallyniounted.

at their lower ends upon a radial armf-EB. ofthef arcu'atemetal plateorapron 5'lforsupporting the pipe 42 "and "the spindle wall constituting apassage orconduit 43 for fluidunderlow pressure froma source of ,supply'subsequent'lyto be; de-

scribed' Th'e'lower end of the pipe 421s mounted in. acap' 44' thatseals the lower endofpassage 43',- said' cap, beingformed with asuitable bore 45 into which is threaded a coupling 46. for a flexibledelivery tube 41. Asimilar coupling" 48 for a fiexibi qeliveryftube 4sisthreaded through he l b s n e' 35.1m 19 es p s 43' therein. Theturreti lfl is 'for nfedfwith 'four radial. arms, 50,; 50 that aredisposed at rightangles to each other, said arms s upporting. re

spective workiholdinglunitsf 1 ,7 4

,The construction iof the respective work-hold inglunits will best 'eunderstood by reference to Figures 7 to; 13 "inclusive; The work, hereindesignated 5 .consists of a length of 'unvulcanized rubbertubing, and inthesplicing of the ends thereof 'to'form an endless tube, the endportions thereof are flattened asshown inljigures' 11 to '13. Tothis'end'there is'provided for each tube end anpupperdm block 52 and alowerdie block 53,whi'cl'i'die blocks'fwhen in juxtaposed position,define ,a relatively; long and narrowl recess wherein T the tub'e"'endsare securely held in flattened conditi on as shown in Figures land 10,-The lower die" blocks 53ar'e mounted upon respective die holders ,5fland the latter are car ried upon the upperends'of respective opposed;

viseejawsor. arms 55 'to which they are. adju'stably' turret "t0. TEachof the' vise'aiaws 5511s formed at its top with a laterallyextending'bracket por-' tion 56, and carried thereon is a transverselyfiat,

the work 5| clear of the vise jaws 'and theiroper ating mechanism."

The vise-jaws55 are angularly movable about their pivotalsupport' 50 soas to be spread apart, as showniin Figure 1, .forthe mounting and re'moval'of the work, and to permittrirniningjof the,tubeends,.as,shown inFigure 12; mate be brought toward each. otherso that the-respectivedieblocks 5Zj, 5 3-lfare fiiiigabutting'relation; as shownin Figures 11'and .13, -to effect the butt-,

splicing ofthetrimmedtube ends; For'swinging; the'..vise'-, jaws'.5 5,as described, there are provided re pect ve, do bleic in fluid re udcylinders 59',fe ach of which has, its lower headpivot'ally.cginnectedjat 'so' toanfadjustable, hori zont'al' 'armw'lthatis secured to andp'rojects cylinder 59;

laterally from the lower end of a T-shaped bracket 62 that is fixedlysecured to the arm 503 of turret 40. The bracket 62 is formed withpairs: of oppositely extending, horizontal arms 62a, 62a,

and between the outer ends of each pair of arms is pivotally mounted onearm 63 of a toggle of which the other arm 64 thereof is connected to thevise-jaw 55.- The adjacent ends of toggle arms 6t,- 64 arepivotallylconnectedat 65 to the outer end of the piston rod 66 of afluid pressure When thelower ends of cylinders 59 are, charged, thevise-jaws 55 are in the position's'shown in full line in Figure 11, andthey are in the broken line positions of said figure when the upperendsjofsaid cylinders are charged.

As is most clearly shown in Figure 10, the lower ends of cylinders 59are charged upon occasion,

with high'pressure fiuid through pipe 6'! and the upper'ends'of saidcylinders normally are charged.

with low pressure fluidthrough pipe 68.

fMounted' upon the outer end portion'of eachr'adialarm 5B is a yoke'Hlthat is formed" with a pair of 'arcuate, divergent braCket-arms'IUQJUa,

. the end portionsof the l,atter]being angular so asto bedisposed'paralleli'to the arm 50 and toeach other; as shown in} Figures10 and 11. In the parallel portions of saidjbracketarms 10aaremountedrespective adjustable stop-screws 1| that are so positioned asto be'engaged with abutments [2 on the outer faces of vise-jaws 55, inthe :open position of thelatter, and thereby determinately'to limit theopeningof said jaws under the power of cylinders 59. x

Positioned below the turret and the. work-holding units isja pan ortray14 that is supported from the brackets 6'42 by respective hangers I5.v

This tray supports the major portion of the work while the respectiveend portions of the work are being butt-spliced.

The upper die blocks 52 hereinbefore mentioned, are carried byrespective upper die holders 'IT-Qeachdie bIock being spaced from itsholder the die 'blocks lightlyupon thework to hold it in thework-holders and for subsequently applying power to'confine the worktightlywithin the'die holders during the tube-trimming and buttsplicingoperations. The power means also is utilized for opening the die-blocksto permit removal of the finished'work., I

As is most clearly shown in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive, the upper dieholder 11 is pivotally mounted; upon a; hinge pin 82 in a bracket-likerearwardextension.83jof the lower die holder 54. Rearwardly of andsomewhat below hinge pin 82 the extension 83',is formed with a bearingfor a 1 rock shaft Mthat is formed with an upwardly ex-,

tending arm 85 constituting one element of a toggle. Keyed to the rockshaft '84 is a downwardly extending crank arrnBB that has its free endpivotally connected to the outer end of the piston rod 31. of a doubleacting,. fiuid pressure operated cylinder 88. The rear end of the latteris pivotally mounted at 89 upona downwardly extending portion 90 of thebracket 56" of the vise-jaw 55. The front end of the cylinder 88normally is Qharged'with low pressure fluid delivered thereto

